Croesor - Rhosydd request for info

[Cantclimbtom]

Mike, please can you be idiot proof (for my benefit), can you explain that one again please
By internal chimney, do you mean the smoke pipe on the incline and going West?

 

[cavemanmike]

Mike, please can you be idiot proof (for my benefit), can you explain that one again please
By internal chimney, do you mean the smoke pipe on the incline and going West?

Yep.
Instead of heading for the first pitch (left of smoke pipe) go right, there you will find a traverse line on your left when you look over the chamber

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Aahhh... I've seen that line in the past and fancied exploring it, but last time I was taking someone on their first ever underground trip and I don't think he'd have appreciated any diversions. You guys must have been working on the "extension" for some time

 

[cavemanmike]

Wasn't us that did the new route, it was speedycaver who did the whole thing on his own 

 

[ChrisJC]

It's worth noting that getting on / off a rope 85m from the top is quite a challenge on account of the bounce in the rope! We did the abseil straight down from the top, no rebelays, and got off to look in the levels near the bottom.

That was before these new additions to the route were added though.

Chris.

 

[Alex]

I think I walked past that shaft once while walking over the hill from the open quarry bit. I re-call a sheep jumping around the edge and wondered how far it would fall if it slipped now I know!

 

[ChrisJC]

There are a number of shafts into Croesor, all fatal. Most of them open.

Chris.

 

[speedycaver]

It's worth noting that getting on / off a rope 85m from the top is quite a challenge on account of the bounce in the rope! We did the abseil straight down from the top, no rebelays, and got off to look in the levels near the bottom.

That was before these new additions to the route were added though.

Chris.

We also done the abseil in one but I did get off to have a look at those levels and yes, it was a bit springy, took a bit of work as Chris has suggested.  As much fun as that shaft it, it is absolutely filthy with soot.  Great fun but a lot of effort for a basic abseil.
I done it just for the sake of doing it but also as a way to access those levels as it isn't particularly easy from the bottom of the shaft.
You need a 110m rope to reach the bottom, more for rigging.  A re-belay at the surface mini adit would work but there are no bolts, or at least nothing I would even hang my coat on.  The two wheels at the top are too far back to do a direct pull through, you would have to use a short rope to get you over the edge. 

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thanks Speedy, thanks also for your extension work (which I hope to sample in about 5 weeks time).

A particular interest of mine is whether a pull through could be done between the top and surface adit level.
If this doesn't upset anyone...? I'd consider placing unquestionably solid anchor at the surface adit level and possibly another 50m lower.
If the whole thing could be done pull through with a pair of 60m ropes (although I understand the trouble someone could be in if they got a rope stuck and didn't also have a 30m or something in their party :doubt

 

[speedycaver]

A pull through for that shaft troubles me.  Other than the surface adit (blocked from the surface, only accessible from the shaft), there are no ledges at all, and so a pull through would have to be done with the group all hanging on something 50m down.  If that rope gets stuck as you say, a 30m rope won't help at all, it would get you down to about 20m from the bottom, but then what...!   

It is about 10m from the surface to the top adit, then a full 100m to the bottom of the shaft.

If you want a pull through trip, take a 220m rope.  Either have a sacrificial rope to get you over the edge of the shaft (not preferred as it will just end up as more rubbish for someone else to clear up later) or, preferably, have some bomber bolts just over the shaft lip to hang the 220m+ rope and use a retrievable rope to get you over the edge and onto that main rope with the last person pulling that temp rope out before they start the descent.  The same idea with dropping to the surface adit and having bolts there.  At least going from the surface adit you know a 200m rope would be sufficient.

If anyone does decide to drop that shaft, please take a stiff brush and some washing-up liquid and give it a clean.  :hug:  Or better, a jet washer!